Environment
Bayelsa to Host Global Online Summit on World Environment Day

In commemoration of the 2020 World Environment Day Celebration in the face of the global Coronavirus Pandemic, the Bayelsa State Government has concluded plans to host a virtual World Environment Day Global summit on Friday, June 5, 2020.
With the theme: THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ON THE AQUATIC FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE NIGER Delta, the summit will create an avenue for stakeholders in the state to collaborate, educate and discuss on the impact of the pandemic on the region with the aim of fashioning out measures to enhance human existence through an improved environment.
This has become more vital in view of the role the region plays in showing care and support for the environment especially with its peculiarity as a major producer of aquatic consumables in the country.
Chief Host at the event is the environmental friendly governor of the State, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri Governor of Bayelsa State while the chairman of the event is HRM. Bubarayo Dakolo Agada, (Ekpetiama Kingdom).
Also expected as the GUEST Speaker is Dr. Pereowei Subai, the renowned Envi ronmentalist Rev Nimmo Bassey, who is the Director of the Ecological think-tank, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and member steering committee of Oilwatch International – a network resisting the expanDrn of fossil fuels extraction in the Global South.
Rev. Bassey was chair of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) (2008-2012) and Executive Director of Nigeria’s Environmental Rights Action (1993-2013). Bassey serves on the boards of a number of non-profit organisation including Global Greengrants Fund, Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group), and of Navdanya International.
He was a co-recipient of the 2010 Right Livelihood Award also known as the “Alternative Noble Prize.”
Others are Princess Elizabeth Egbe, a rights activist, Public Commentator/Analysist, An Advocate, Entrepreneur, A Mentor and An Evangelist, Coordinator of Global Care Rescue Mission aka Operation Rescue, State Coordinator, Tax Justice And Good Governance Platform, Environmental Activist and Developmental expert.
Morris Alagoa was the Bayelsa State Secretary of Civil Liberties Organisatiin (CLO) between 2007-2012.
He became the first and only ERA staff to receive Awards as Environmental/Human Rights monitor in 2008 and Comrade Che Ibegwura Award in 2013 (from ERA). Other Awards includes “Defender of the Environment(issued by Environmental Outreach magazine), Environmentalist of the Year, 2013 ( by alumni of Ijaw female Students, Bayelsa State), three times winner of Environmentalist of the Year ( Bayelsa Merit Award– 2017,2018 and 2019), and Nollyhood Environmentalist Award 2019.
Alagoa Morris loves to write Developmental Articles, especially about our communities and has had several published in local and national newspapers since 2004.
Also expected is Dr. Tubodenyefa Zibima, a University lecturer and consultant whose research focus is on comparative environmental regulatory frameworks, extractive and conflict. His recent advisory roles include providing technical assistance in reforming environmental legislation in the Nigerian oil and gas sector to the House Committee on Environment and Habitat of the 8th and 9th National assemblies and NOSDRA. From 2016/18 he was the Team Lead for the Environment Component of the Dutch Environment and Governance Framework for the Niger Delta, a project funded by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by Stakeholder Democracy Network.
Veteran broadcast journalist, Mamode Felix Akugha will moderate the virtual meeting. Felix Emamode Akughabis an astute and seasoned journalist and, a quintessential administrator with experience spanning over three decades. He is the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Wovik communications, a media consultancy/ advertising agency with cutting edge abilities in creating Television and radio content for individuals and organisations. The Creator, producer and anchor of Inside the Niger Delta with Mamode Akugha, a premium Television programme that focuses on the Niger Delta region that has grown to become the much sought after authentic voice of Nigeria’s oil – rich region. He is also the Producer and anchor of the popular radio show ‘Which Way Nigeria? which is syndicated across several radio stations in the country.
The business of protecting the environment of Nigerthe Delta is a business that music-riched with all seriousness it deserves. *”A study published in May 2020 found that the daily global carbon emissions during the lockdown measures in early April fell by 17% and could lead to an annual carbon emissions decline of up to 7%, which would be the biggest drop since World War II according to the researchers. They ascribe these decreases mainly to the reduction of transportation usage and industrial activities. However, it has been noted that rebounding could diminish reductions due to the more limited industrial activities. Nevertheless, societal shifts caused by the coronavirus lockdowns – like widespread telecommuting and the use of virtual conference technology – may have a more sustained impact beyond the short term reduction of transportation usage.”
That is why His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri has taken it up as one of his cardinal objectives to bring together this accomplished team of scholors and environmental advocates to interrogate and broaden the issues of post COVID 19 dynamics.
The program is being coordinated by the Director of Strategic Communications, Documentation and Speech Writing to the Governor in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and powered by Red Sapphire Events Management, Media and PR Consultant.
Environment
First Lady Seeks Lasting Solution to Eradicate Environmental Pollution

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has called for a lasting solution to eradicate environmental pollution caused by plastic wastes.
In her message to mark the year 2025 World Environment Day, with the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, in Abuja on Thursday, the first lady also advised people to curtail the way they consume food and drinks packaged in plastics.
“I join millions of Nigerians and the world in calling for urgent and united action to safeguard our environment.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting our health, our environment, and our future.“In Nigeria, we must rise to this challenge by changing how we consume packaged food items and how we dispose of plastic containers and bags.
“I particularly want to speak to our youths, the leaders of tomorrow, be it in schools or within our neighborhoods, each of you has a role to play in creating a cleaner, healthier and greener Nigeria,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu had recently promised to introduce environmental solutions clubs to schools through her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
“I want to use this opportunity to introduce our students to two programmes that the RHI will be launching soon.
“First is the Environment Club for Secondary School Students and the Environment Society for Students in Tertiary institutions nationwide to help us clean up our environment and grow more trees.
“Second is the “Flow with Confidence” for our girls in rural communities.
“This programme is to provide one year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads to our adolescent girls to support them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle,” She said.
NAN further reports that some of the functions of RHI environmental clubs in schools would include raising environmental awareness; fostering social and life skills; empowering students to take action and promoting sustainable behaviours.
The clubs can also enhance critical thinking and creativity, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen communities.
The club would encourage students to participate in various environmental projects, like tree planting, recycling, and garden projects, gaining practical experience and deeper understanding.(NAN))
Environment
Billboard accident: Abia Govt. to Offset Victims’ Hospital Bills – ABSAA Official

Abia Government says it will offset the hospital bills of the Aba Billboard accident victims.
Mrs Victoria Onwubiko, Managing Director, Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency (ABSAA) made this known on Thursday in Aba at the Salad Market entrance, the site of the accident.
A big billboard fell on some passengers in five tricycles in Aba on Wednesday, following a boisterous wind, killing one person and injuring seven others.
Onwubiko said the governor had given the necessary approval for procedures regarding the victims’ treatment without hindrances.
“So, we are glad there are not going to be any more deaths; from what we have seen, the victims in the hospital are recovering and doing well.
“We understand that about eight persons were involved in the accident; five are at the Abia University Teaching Hospital, two have been discharged and one is died,” she said.
Onwubiko added that the governor had sent his Chief of Staff to the hospital for the proper management of the victims at ABSUTH, Aba.
According to her, there is no hoping that any one of them will go to the court as the state government is doing everything to take care of them.
He said ABSAA would ensure such accidents did not reoccur noting that henceforth the agency would inspect every advertising site in the state.
“We are going to ask the owners of sites like this to give us the technical drawings with which they built their sites.
“If we don’t see them, the bill board will come down for them to redo it to ensure safety,” she said.
The ABSAA MD said every site, whether high or low, which is not sound, will go down.
Mr Chinedu Nwibo, an eye-witness and a vulcaniser for tricycle operators, said there were seven persons at the entrance of the Salad Market on that Wednesday when the accident occurred.
“We were inside a little makeshift shop I had set up for my work when the rain started on Wednesday.
“The wind was very boisterous and some of the tricycle operators went into their tricycles to stay for the rain to stop.
“No sooner had they ran into their tricycles than a big iron pipe used to hoist a billboard fell on them.
“One Destiny Uguru, 27, from Izzi in Ebonyi state died from the accident while seven persons sustained injury,” he said.
Nwibo called on the government to come to the aid of the victims especially by replacing their tricycles.
“The man that lost his life has an expectant wife and two children,” he said. (NAN)
Environment
FG, Partners Urged to Act On Rangeland Conservation

The Federal Government and partners have been urged to take decisive action to protect and restore rangelands, safeguard pastoralist communities’ livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience in dryland regions.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 5th International Conference on Drylands.
The conference, themed ‘Promoting Sustainability and Resilience of Rangelands: Present and Future Outlooks’, was organised by the Centre for Dryland Agriculture at Bayero University in Kano and took place from May 6 to 8, 2025.
The three-day conference brought together over 300 participants, including scientists, researchers, policymakers, development partners, and private sector representatives.
The articipants urged governments to develop and implement comprehensive, participatory, and evidence-based legal frameworks prioritizing sustainable rangeland management.
These frameworks should recognise, protect, and support traditional knowledge and practices of pastoralists, ensuring equitable access to land and natural resources.
Secure land tenure and fair resource governance are crucial for promoting peaceful coexistence and preventing land-use conflicts.
The conference recognised the critical role of women and youths from pastoralist communities in driving resilience and sustainability.
The conference also called for increased investment in capacity building, active participation in decision-making processes, and support for income-generating opportunities and sustainable resource development projects.
The conference emphasised the need to scale up public and private sector investments in climate change adaptation strategies, sustainable land management technologies, and diversified livelihood initiatives.
These investments should be complemented by demand-driven research and the promotion of innovations that integrate indigenous knowledge with modern scientific approaches.
The conference urged international development partners and organisations to align their resources with the conference outcomes and enhance regional and global cooperation, particularly on transboundary issues.
The participants also advocated deeper engagement with global initiatives such as the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and the Africa Soil Initiative.
The conference concluded that the alarming degradation of rangelands, threats to pastoralist livelihoods, and fragility of dryland ecosystems demand urgent, collaborative, and sustained action.
The participants emphasised that achieving healthy rangelands was key to food security, ecological balance, and peaceful coexistence.
The conference brought together participants from 11 African countries, 13 Nigerian states, 17 academic institutions, and several international organisations.
It created a rich platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and regional collaboration.( NAN)